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Post by whistler on Jul 19, 2005 2:14:43 GMT
Do they use any ritual, If so what degree ritual do they work, is their research related to degrees
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Post by hollandr on Jul 19, 2005 2:28:11 GMT
Whistler Here is a link showing the deliberations of probably the most famous research lodge. freemasonry.bcy.ca/aqc/You may be dismayed to discover that the objective of research is historical rather than recovering what was lost and turning speculative masonry back to operative spiritual masonry. Perhaps we should start our own research lodge. Cheers Russell
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giovanni
Member
odi profanum vulgus, et arceo
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Post by giovanni on Jul 19, 2005 4:08:06 GMT
Whistler Here is a link showing the deliberations of probably the most famous research lodge. freemasonry.bcy.ca/aqc/You may be dismayed to discover that the objective of research is historical rather than recovering what was lost and turning speculative masonry back to operative spiritual masonry. Perhaps we should start our own research lodge. Cheers Russell Yes, Russell, you should stop inquiring "when" Freemasonry was created and start asking "why" it was created.
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Post by hollandr on Jul 19, 2005 4:19:29 GMT
>Yes, Russell, you should stop inquiring "when" Freemasonry was created and start asking "why" it was created.
Giovanni
Perhaps the reasons for Masonry are already known.
And the tracking down of the origin(s) is a process for unveiling those purposes.
Cheers
Russell
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giovanni
Member
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Post by giovanni on Jul 19, 2005 6:11:36 GMT
You say that the reasons are well known: also y the newbies? I doubt
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Post by taylorsman on Jul 19, 2005 7:51:19 GMT
Yes Russell perhaps we ought to start our own Lodge of Research with an Esoteric and Symbolical inclination. I was a member of the QCCC (the Correspondence Circle) for quite a few years but resigned as I found it was good for Historical Info as you say but took rather a "Mundane" Party Line on most issues.
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Post by taylorsman on Jul 19, 2005 8:04:35 GMT
Whistler. I don't think they confer Degrees so the only Ritual Working they would do would be to Open and Close the Lodge and the Installation of the new WM each year and I assume they use the dreaded Emulation or some variant thereof, though of course they may use another Ritual from time to time to illustrate some Lecture or Paper being delivered .
The actual Lodge , Quatuor Coronati, is composed of some very erudite and high ranking Brethren who will have performed in their own Lodges etc and possibly still do. The usual Business is for one member to present a Paper which is received and then questions are asked and comments made by the other Brethren present.
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Post by Proton on Jul 19, 2005 8:31:46 GMT
I myself am a member of two such lodges. One in Sussex the other in Scotland. Since I have joined these, I have been asked to deliver, on a number of occasions, titles concerning masonry in the Middle Eastern countries. Basically Research lodges or Masters' Lodges as they are often called in the EC are for delivering talks, papers, the annual Prestonian Lecture, even demonstrations. The ritual they they use, may be emulation, but it depends on the lodge. The newly formed North London Installed Masters uses Taylors I think? In Sussex we use the Sussex ritual. Likewise so does the East and West Installed Masters lodges. So Sussex has three research lodges. Now each will have its own method of operating. This year I have delivered two talks: On on Freemasonry in Mesopotamia. And later in September Ahoy Brother! The story of Shipboard FreemasonryIn Scotland, these lodges are a relatively new. But they do have some eminent members of the Molay lodge. I have also delivered talks there. On recently on the History of Masonry in Persia and Mesopotamia. Also Lodge Hope No 337, has an annual symposium in which certain themes are presented there. Details are on their website. Proton
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Michael
Member
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Post by Michael on Jul 19, 2005 8:38:14 GMT
I am a regular visitor to a lodge in Bury - Papyrean 5771. It was, up until a few years ago down to just a couple of members. Not wanting to give in they reinvented themselves as a Lodge of research, and a number of very interesting lectures were given - after all, we are in Neville Barker Cryer country - they were so successful that the lectures now unfortunately take second place to working ceremonies in (sorry Steve) Emulation. They still try and fit in short pieces. but like another Lodge I recently visited in London they have found a way of saving themselves and increasing membership.
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Post by taylorsman on Jul 19, 2005 9:18:34 GMT
It is good the hear that there are other Lodges of Research over and above the well known ones. More power to their elbow!
With Installed Masters Lodges, (Most Provinces have at least one), the problem of Candidates does not arise as all members are PMs although they sometimes work a Second or Third for a Lodge in order to keep their hand in.
I have tended to shy clear of Installed Masters Lodges as I do not want to meet up with the "Badge Collectors" out to impress the PGM who can alas be found in these and Prov Grand Stewards Lodges, but I commend them if they have interesting Papers, Lectures and Demonstrations. However in fairness I have also seen some wonderful Ritual work performed by such Lodges on Visitations to Private Lodges and have met quite a few decent and knowledgeable Brethren from same, but personally such Lodges are not my scene.
May be this is a good way, as has been mentioned by Michael, to rescue a failing Lodge and transform it into a Lodge of Research, which would primarily attract Joining Members who were interested and only work Degrees, other than as Demonstrations, from time to time. It also need not be an expensive Lodge as it could be held on a Saturday Morning, with a light buffet instead of a Full Festive Board or even all those who wanted to going down the pub for a pie and pint afterwards, and need not concern itself with Ladies Nights etc
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Michael
Member
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Post by Michael on Jul 19, 2005 9:55:37 GMT
I have to say I rather like the idea of keeping the costs down - having only just gone back to work after nine months off, money is still in rather short supply - and a Saturday morning with the option of going for a meal is a very good idea.
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Harmony
Member
The Craft ; 1241 & 1386 & 1706 (Hon) (SC). OSM - Polnoon Castle Conclave. HRA - Rockmount & Camphi
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Post by Harmony on Jul 19, 2005 10:33:09 GMT
It is good the hear that there are other Lodges of Research over and above the well known ones. More power to their elbow! With Installed Masters Lodges, (Most Provinces have at least one), the problem of Candidates does not arise as all members are PMs although they sometimes work a Second or Third for a Lodge in order to keep their hand in. I have tended to shy clear of Installed Masters Lodges as I do not want to meet up with the "Badge Collectors" out to impress the PGM who can alas be found in these and Prov Grand Stewards Lodges, but I commend them if they have interesting Papers, Lectures and Demonstrations. May be this is a good way, as has been mentioned by Michael, to rescue a failing Lodge and transform it into a Lodge of Research, which would primarily attract Joining Members who were interested and only work Degrees, other than as Demonstrations, from time to time. It also need not be an expensive Lodge as it could be held on a Saturday Morning, with a light buffet instead of a Full Festive Board or even all those who wanted to going down the pub for a pie and pint afterwards, and need not concern itself with Ladies Nights etc Lodge the Kings Park, 1386 (SC) is a Lodge of Research. As you noted, the ritual is really just for opening and closing, and as everyone is an affiliate, even this can be quite interesting. I think we all do our own ritual, and muddle through as best we can. After all, we are not there to improve our ritual, but to get to the important part of the evening. Sandwich harmony at the end, which takes the form of an informal Q&A and discussion on (at least at the start) the paper delivered. Affiliation Fee - £60 Annual subs £25 Ocassional demonstation rituals - i.e. last year we had a period 2nd Degree from c. 1800.
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Post by taylorsman on Jul 19, 2005 10:52:37 GMT
That's the way to go, Harmony. There is plenty of opportunity to strut one's stuff with performance of the Ritual in other Lodges if that is what one wishes to do.
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Post by JulesTheBit on Jul 19, 2005 11:06:27 GMT
Write that in bloody great capital letters!
JS
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Post by hollandr on Jul 19, 2005 11:33:47 GMT
> ..... you should stop inquiring "when" Freemasonry was created and start asking "why" it was created.
>Write that in bloody great capital letters!
I am not sure why I am attracting such comments.
I have had a look at my last 30 posts and many of them are concerned with what is veiled by Masonry.
So perhaps some of the newer members might like to view my earlier posts.
Or perhaps my posts are themselves too veiled.
Cheers I suppose
Russell
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giovanni
Member
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Posts: 2,627
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Post by giovanni on Jul 19, 2005 12:27:37 GMT
When i say "You should"... I mean You = Anglo Saxon. Sorry, it's a bad English translation of my thoughts. No offense to you, dear Bro. Russell, whose posts are quite clear.
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Post by JulesTheBit on Jul 19, 2005 12:48:30 GMT
When i say "You should"... I mean You = Anglo Saxon. Sorry, it's a bad English translation of my thoughts. No offense to you, dear Bro. Russell, whose posts are quite clear. And similar apologies from me. T'was a general comment aimed at the entire Masonic world, not at anyone in particular and especially not Russell. I wish we could spend half the time discussing why speculative freemasonry developed as we do discussing when & how. JS
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Post by gladiator on Jul 19, 2005 14:04:43 GMT
Why? " To gather that which is scattered." Truth Eric
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Post by whistler on Jul 19, 2005 19:44:56 GMT
Look at this question from the 12th Degree (ref the Slide Rule) Q; What lesson does it teach us in this degree? A: That we should strive to grasp and solve the great problems presented by the Universe, and involved in our existence, to know and understand the lofty truths of philosophy; and to communicate freely of our knowledge unto others, not hiding our talents in the earth like sordid misers, but diffusing light and information among the ignorant and uninformed.. Those are truly magnificent instructions. What great joy and excitement it is to be a Freemason, and exposed to such words, and to be given such profound instructions... Being Freemasons is really neat
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Post by taylorsman on Jul 20, 2005 7:27:46 GMT
If setting up a Lodge of Research, possibly by rescuing a failing Lodge as Bro Julian and others have done , I can see that it would be wise to decide what one's objects were from the start. To use rthe modern parlance , to have a "Road Map".
Julian and his Brethren have decided, it would seem from his posts, (and please correct me if I mis-interpret), to research the History of Freemasonry and have used their Ritual as a reference. Others may wish to investigate matters of a more diverse nature, not necessarily tied to any particular Working. From what I have read on this Forum since its inception there is plenty of scope and it would appear desire for such studies .
Two thoughts that would occur to me are that firstly it would be redundant to try to copy the likes of Quatuor Coronati, a long established and well renowned Lodge of Research which is known throughout the Masonic World. Secondly, if some Brethren do band together to rescue a Lodge which is in danger of erasure for lack of attendance etc, what happens to the residual Brethren thereof? Do they acquiesce in the changes being brought in by the rescuers or fade away? I would be interested in the experiences of Brethren who have been down this road both those who have saved such a Lodge and those who have been existing Members when such a Rescue has taken place.
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